She spied the Professor afar sitting at work on the
piazza. She flew along the path and burst in
upon him.

“Daddy!” she cried, and enveloped him.
His astonishment was poignant.

“My dear,” he said, “my dear.
Why, I must have forgotten that you were coming.
I would have been at the station.”

“I knew you’d forget, so I didn’t
bother you with it. How are you? Have you
been lonesome? Did you miss us? Where’s
Ardelia?” all in a breath. The Professor
smiled.

“Question one, I am well. Two, I cannot
say that I have been lonesome. Three, I did not
miss you. Four, Ardelia is in the kitchen.
How are you, Jarvis?” he added as his son-in-law
appeared.

“I am well, sir. I trust you are the same.”

“Thank you. I enjoy good health.”

“Stop it! Sounds like the first aid to
manners. Here’s Ardelia. Well, how
do you do?”

Ardelia’s face was decorated with a most expansive
grin.

“Howdy, Miss Bambi? Howdy, Massa Jarvis?
I sho’r am glad to see you folks home again.”
She shook hands with both of them.

“How’s everything, Ardelia?”

“All right, Miss. Eberything is all right.
We got ’long fine together, the Perfessor and
me. We des went about forgettin’ eberyting
and habin’ a mighty comfortable time. Did
you all have a good time on your honeymoon?”

“Fine,” said Bambi. “We brought
you some presents, that will make your eyes ache,
and, ’Delia, we’re famished.”

“Dog’s foot! Heah I stan’ a-gassin’
and a-talkin’ and you all hungry as wolfses.”
She hurried off, muttering.

Jarvis and Bambi sat down.

“Isn’t there something you want to tell
me? I can’t just remember what you went
to New York for?”

“We went to sell my play,” Jarvis prompted.

“To be sure. It had escaped me for a moment.
Were you successful?”

“We were not.”

“Oh, Jarvis, how can you say that? We don’t
know yet. Belasco is considering it.”